Chapter 53

Siblings Team Battle, Against A Dragon!

Previously on Lyra’s diary of misfortune, a dragon girl had a match with my brother for no reason, and this time—she wants to fight us as a set of siblings!

Seriously, I wonder what’s wrong with her?

A dragon is clearly far more superior than the other races, so isn’t the result quite obvious already?

Be as talented as we are, we are only humans… with a little elf blood… and more importantly, we are still kids!!

“Ah!”

When I gazed at Alt-nii, I came to realize something.

“Wait a minute, can we have a break so Alt-nii can recover first? We’re at a great disadvantage if it’s like this…”

Though Alt-nii didn’t suffer from any kind of a major damage, he still used up a lot of his power—both physical and magical, so it’s better for us to rest for a while, and perhaps heal his minor injury such as some scratches he may have gotten from the fight?

“Ah, you’re right. But there’s no need of a break. Here, use this.”

Carbuncle seemed to be looking for something from inside her clothes—and after searching for a while, she took out a spherical glass-like object and pointed it at us.

“What is that?”

I tilted my head in confusion. I have never seen that object before, nor have I heard about such an object… Which means, it must be one of their dragon-exclusive items!

“It’s… some sort of a recovery item. Here, try this!”

With that, Carbuncle threw the spherical glass lightly. The glass then floated itself and approached us.

After it floated in the middle of Alt-nii and me, I saw Carbuncle made a gesture with her own hand—as she clutched her left hand strongly. And along with her clutched hands, the spherical glass was shattered to pieces.

Oddly enough, the pieces were not like any normal glass pieces—rather, it became some kind of dust particles as they spread around us—or more precisely, the particles were raining incessantly on us.

“Whoa, I feel so full of energy!” Alt-nii exclaimed in surprise as I also felt something…

“Eh, does this have a revitalizing effect? I feel like brimming with power, too…”

The magical particles seemed like they also boosted our energy.

I mean, I only did some running and my head was a bit heavy due to my endless worry over the chaotic situation, but now… I feel myself brimming with vigor and mana, and my head feels so much better, too.

“Thank you, Carbuncle-san!!”

We expressed our thanks earnestly.

Looking at our expressions, I can sense that Carbuncle’s eyes lit up in excitement as she murmured something that I couldn’t hear really well. However, I can only hear one word, and that is—

“Jackpot!”

…But, what kind of jackpot is she referring to?

Weird girl.

“Anyway, since everything’s settled, here is your competition pendant, little sister.”

“…My name is Lyra, and thank you!”

I tried to catch the pendant that she threw so suddenly in a fluster while announcing my name—it’s better than being addressed as “little sister”, right?

“Okay, Tair and Lyr, shall we start?”

…Tair and Lyr—it somehow rhymes, but that’s not how you’re supposed to call me and Alt-nii!!

But well, let’s save the trivial matters for later—since we’ve got a game to do right after this.

“Wait, you haven’t explained the rules and the winning condition of this game!” Alt-nii protested.

“Ah, right. So, unlike the 1 vs 1 where the game is over when one of our crystal pendants is broken, this time’s magical pendant that will seal your movements and magical aura once it’s broken, and the effect only lasts until the game ends. You win if you can break my crystal pendant, and likewise, I win if I break your pendants—right, the two of you. I think that’s all that I need to explain?”

“O-okay, I get it…”

To sum it briefly—she needs to break our crystal pendants to win the game, and either of us—the one who got their pendant broken first—will remain unable to move until another crystal pendant breaks that marks the end of the match.

Yeah, a sparring match with a game system like this feels more fun!

“Let’s start the match then—”

As Carbuncle started to chant the same words that she said before her match with Alt-nii started, Alt-nii inched closer to me and whispered to my ears.

“Lyra, I will be taking the defensive. You should focus on attacking her crystal pendant and entrust your protection to me. For anything other than that, well, we’ll see about it later. Oh, and let me tell you about my present that you’re wearing, actually—”

“…Efenstálian!”

Oh, that word… it marks the end of her vow—or was it really a dragon’s vow?

I was surprised by Alt-nii’s sudden revelation of his gift that I’m wearing right now, but the dragon girl’s enthusiastic yell surprised me even more.

The match is starting!! I had no room to discuss the strategy in further details with Alt-nii, but I should just act as he outlined before. After all, I’m also more used to take the offensive part rather than the defensive part!

The atmosphere around us suddenly changed—perhaps it was due to the fact that the game’s already started and it might also be because of the barrier’s gotten firmly raised around the fighting grounds.

Again, Carbuncle spread her wings and floated slightly higher than the ground, and along with her spreading wings, she summoned several dark clouds and the sparkling yellow bolts of lightning.

It’s the usual thing that would make her opponent become harder to focus on attacking—I mean, dodging these thunders alone is quite a hassle to do!

I glanced sideways towards Alt-nii and he was already looking at me. As our eyes matched, he nodded. I assumed we’d just go through with what he planned.

So, I dashed forward without paying any mind—just kidding, I still jumped here and there due to my surprise at the upcoming thunder, although Alt-nii managed to negate the dragon’s magic using his Void magic spell. Sometimes, I saw a barrier that prevented the lightning from striking me.

[Cielegicel sceard]! (Icicle shards!)

As I got closer to her, I chanted one of my [Ice] magic spells. As soon as I finished chanting, several sharp icicle shards formed in front of me and lunged their ways towards the dragon girl’s crystal pendant. Since the distance isn’t so far, the icicle shards can lunge their ways towards Carbuncle with such high speed—if she can’t react fast enough, my attacks will hit her.

[Hlynrian stânhege] (Thunder wall)

Contrary to my expectations, Carbuncle didn’t even bat an eye in her surprise and calmly chanted. Thick layers of thunder quickly rained down from the sky and made their ways between Carbuncle and my glorious icicle shards… And that marks the end of my icicle shards. Engulfed completely by her thunder wall.

After the thick layers of thunder diminished, the smug face of the dragon girl could be seen as she extended her left hand and—

Crap, crap, crap, it’s her counterattack!!

Perhaps it’s her way of saying, “Taste your own medicine!”—she summoned several lightning spears in front of her as they rapidly made their ways to me—

Alt-nii, I’m literally placing my life to you!!

I totally didn’t expect her to chant her counterattack immediately after her defensive thunder wall perished—and I was taunted by her smug face, too.

…Yes, I can finally feel that I’m a complete newbie in terms of magic battle now…

The thunder emitted dazzling light, so I instinctively put my hands in front of my head and covered it—I closed my eyes while strongly called out Alt-nii’s name inside my own mind.

Alt-nii!! I’m relying on you!!

“…kh!”

At Alt-nii’s struggling voice and the realization that the impact didn’t strike me, I opened my eyes again.

In front of me, there were two layers of defensive magic spells.

One, the [Void] space that was intended to absorb the lightning spears and return it to nothingness. Two, a bulky barrier that should be made by the [Life] magic.

And why would Alt-nii cast two layers of them?

The answer is quite simple.

The lightning spears still managed to make their ways through the [Void] space! …though their strength seemed to be reduced quite significantly after passing through the [Void] space.

Then—the lightning spears are currently trying to force their ways to me, while Alt-nii is trying his best to maintain the barrier and quickly applying another layer of it to the place where cracks are forming.

“Lyra, move!”

I can tell from Alt-nii’s expression that he wouldn’t be able to repel the lightning spears any longer, so I obeyed his words and swiftly distanced myself from the magic clash—

“I won’t let you!”

The dragon girl’s voice sent chills down to my spine. I could tell that she’s putting more power to her lightning spear magic as I can sense the light emitted from her lightning magic behind me grew stronger.

“Aah!”

Alt-nii’s scream is followed by the cracking sounds of his barrier. Then…

*BOOM!*

An explosion formed from the crash. The impact is strong enough that it made me lose my grounds and leaped in front of me—then, I landed perfectly on the ground with my body hugging the earth… Hi, Mister Earth! But it’s not the right time to be hugging you… (^_^

I stood up and dusted my face from all the dust and soil…

“*cough cough cough*!”

…yeah, some got into my mouth and nose, as expected.

“Lyra, are you okay?!”

“Alt-nii, yes, I’m fine! …Ah, behind you!!”

I warned Alt-nii as I saw the dragon girl switching her target to Alt-nii.

Right. In the first place, she was attacking me to stop me from attacking her. Now that I’m not attacking her, it’s natural for her to be aiming for the defensive part in our team—Alt-nii.

Instead of the distant magic as she demonstrated up until now, this time—she covered herself in her own thunder magic and rammed at a high speed towards Alt-nii.

Wouldn’t she seriously injure Alt-nii if she attacks like this?!

I started to doubt the dragon girl’s words earlier, about how she wouldn’t injure us severely. Well, true, we can get healed right away, but… if she were to put too much power in her attack… the result won’t be good.

Luckily enough, Alt-nii turned around at the right timing—the dragon girl was just right in front of him when he erected his defensive barrier.

Nevertheless, Carbuncle still tried to push her way through the barrier.

Just right when I thought Alt-nii would eventually lose out, another layer of magic formed in front of Alt-nii’s barrier. This is… [Void] magic!

“!!”

The [Void] magic that immediately touched the lightning that shrouded the dragon girl’s body managed to dispel her magic right away.

As Carbuncle seemed to understand that it would be dangerous for her to force her way to the layer of [Void] magic, she withdrew herself.

“Phew, that was close!”

Alt-nii wiped the sweats that formed on his forehead… and his breathing turned ragged…

Ah, right. He must have put lots of mana to the spell earlier, as it managed to easily dispel the dragon girl’s magic.

…He must be so, so tired…

“Alt-nii, move!”

This is my perfect chance to attack, so I quickly chanted my next spell after warning Alt-nii.

[Forstlic bewrecan!] (Frozen chase)

The ground in front of me was quickly covered with ice as my [Ice] magic made its way, chasing after the dragon girl up in the sky.

Yes, I’ll try to freeze her and immobilize her first!

The dragon girl noticed the approaching ice and quickly hurled her sturdy tail to damage the ice that formed right below her. The ice might be fractured from her tail, but that didn’t matter! It didn’t stop the ice to continuously form and chase after her!

I love seeing her troubled expression!

She then increased her speed and flew higher into the sky—eh, so, she wants to outspeed my ice magic? Then, I have to focus and input more power to enhance its speed—I might exhaust my mana by doing this, so I’ll have to leave the rest to Alt-nii.

However, Carbuncle soon descended down again with a very powerful and rapid movement.

Then—“Receive Tkmkzch’s Judgment!”

She shouted very loudly and right then, explosive bolts of thunder hit my ice magic that towered through the sky, 10 of the powerful bolts of lightning struck in just one second… And just in one second, my ice magic was dispelled perfectly, and the impact of her thunder spread throughout the whole fighting grounds.

It was very earth-staggering… literally.

And then—

“Yaaahhh!!”

I was so surprised when I noticed a bolt of thunder was hitting my crystal pendant!!

Just when…?!

My body flew back for a short while before I landed and reunited with Mister Earth.

“Lyra, no!”

Alt-nii ran towards me and shook my body quickly.

…

“Ahaha, one down, now you’re the only one left, Tair!”

Carbuncle’s happy voice resounded as I remained at my previous position, embracing Mister Earth completely.

“Tch!”

Alt-nii quickly ran, leaving me behind as he approached the dragon girl and went full offensive.

Luckily enough, I can still see the scene projected before me completely fine.

Alt-nii… please, succeed!

[Scearseax windan!] (Razor Wind)

[Void ball!]

[…!!]

Alt-nii summoned several attacks, from sharp blades of wind, balls of void energy, and lastly, he poured his [Life] magic to nearby small rocks, as some small spirit-like creatures formed from the rocks and flew away to chase Carbuncle.

“Ha, getting desperate, aren’t you?!”

Carbuncle easily dodged everything and finally stopped right next to me—as the attacks that Alt-nii performed somehow led her there.

Though I was right beside her, she didn’t pay any attention to me and focused her gaze on Alt-nii. Well, yes, after destroying my crystal pendant, I was no longer seen as a potential threat to her.

…

…

I put all my remaining strength to my feet, accelerating my speed with [Wind] magic as I leaped towards her from her side.

My hands moved to reach the gift that Alt-nii gave to me, the peculiar metallic hair accessories that I used to tie my hair to form the current twintails. As told by Alt-nii before, I managed to combine the pair of hair accessories very easily as they just combined their parts on their own once I brought them closer—then, I used it as a knuckle.

With the remaining mana I have, I poured my [Ice] magic to the knuckle.

As my feet touched the dragon girl’s shadow, I chanted the [Dark] magic that would stop her movement from her shadow in my mind.

After doing that, I jumped and aimed my knuckle at her pendant…

That’s when she noticed my presence!

“Wha…?!” She looked at me with a very surprised expression as she just noticed that she couldn’t move her body easily.

“How can it be?!”

She said in her surprise as my knuckle touched the crystal pendant on her chest—

Surprisingly, though I immobilized her movements using [Dark] magic, she could still summon sparks of lightning that hindered my knuckle from destroying her crystal pendant! Cracks slightly formed, but I couldn’t advance due to the protective sparks.

“Ah, your crystal pendant…!!”

I smiled.

“So, you just noticed?”

Yes, my crystal pendant was severely cracked, but it hasn’t been completely destroyed yet!

---Let’s go back in time and see something “behind-the-scene”!---

As Alt-nii shook my body, I turned my body slightly to the left side to face him, though I doubt I could do it—wait, what?!

“Alt-nii…? Ah… I can move? What is…”

I took out my crystal pendant immediately and noticed that although the crystal was severely cracked, it hasn’t been destroyed yet.

“Thank goodness, I can continue to fight alongside you!”

…But this is bad. I poured my mana at my previous spell, so I could feel the fatigue in my body right now.

“…Lyra, I have an idea!”

Alt-nii whispered his idea to me…

“I will erase your magical aura so she couldn’t sense you. Trick her, make her believe that you can no longer move… I will direct her so that she’ll stand next to you. Then, I will quickly hide your presence at that time. When she has an opening, go and attack her crystal pendant! As for the attack, I’ll leave it to you to think while I’m fighting her. And you can use that knuckle-hybrid-hair-accessories in case you can’t put too much magical power in your attack.”

As per his idea, I continued to hug Mister Earth and remained like a dead body!

In the end, I devised the safest idea of sealing her movement first, then attack later!

Because my mana is running out and my body is collecting fatigue… I think it’s also time to try the knuckle.

---End of “behind-the-scene”---

Anyway, cracks continued to form. So, as long as I kept on doing this, her crystal pendant will eventually be destroyed!

…I was reminded once again that I was too naïve.

Carbuncle could somehow move her head and neck as she inched closer to my knuckle! She opened her mouth and readied her fangs—wait what?!

There were electric sparks around her fangs!

Before I could process the significance of it, the tips of her fangs touched the tip of my metallic knuckle and—

“Aaaah!!”

It electrocuted me!!

I lost my balance right away as I felt my body paralyzed at the same time.

Before I could even react, Carbuncle lightly tossed a small arrow of thunder to my crystal pendant, effectively breaking it for real.

I lied down, immobilized on the ground.

So, everything is up to Alt-nii now…

“It’s been fun! You’re tired, aren’t you? Let me end this, then!”

Carbuncle’s voice could be heard again as I saw her flying towards Alt-nii.

Alt-nii’s exhausted, so he only formed a double-layered barrier, one [Void], and one [Life] right in front of his body, effectively covering the pendant, but…

“Pfft, so naïve!”

The dragon girl swung her hand to Alt-nii and…

Summoned a gust of wind that blew Alt-nii’s pendant to the side—to the defenseless side!

Before Alt-nii could move his barrier there, Carbuncle has already pierced her lightning spear to the crystal.

…As the crystal broke, our match finally ended.

***

“That was fun, that was fun!!”

Inside the tidy office we’re in, Carbuncle put her hands on her waist and laughed happily. Her current appearance was quite different than when she was fighting.

As of now, the red garnet embedded on her forehead and the red markings on her face were perfectly concealed, as well as her dragon wings and dragon tail.

She looked perfectly like an ordinary human—the only things that could arouse suspicion that she is a dragon would be her unusually sharp fangs that sometimes stuck out of her mouth and her pointed ears. And yes, her pointy ears’ shape is different than the elves and the dwarves. It’s a shape I’ve never seen before.

A lot of things happened after the match ended. Alt-nii and I got healed, Shekai-san concluded the matter and said several things again regarding Carbuncle, and now… we’re in the principal’s room. After a light chat with Shekai-san, Carbuncle blabbered.

“Lyr and Tair are awesome! That’s it, I’ve decided!”

…Decided what?

“I will mark this Basic Level as my territory! I want to observe these interesting kids more! Ahaha!!”

“…”

Shekai-san’s smile also turned stiff.

She surely didn’t expect the dragon girl to end her journey and settle on her Basic Level as a “foreign student”, right…

I also didn’t expect it… although I was one of the people who caused her to have this idea…

Oh well… that’s fine, since at least, I’m not asked to personally take care of her and—

“Ah right, I gotta choose a class I want to attend, right? Hmm, you siblings are in different classes… Oh well, that’s it! Since we’re fellow girls, I’m going to be with Lyr, then!”

“…”

“Lyra-chan’s just a new student here. She isn’t used to this school yet… are you sure about it, Carbuncle-chan?”

“Eeh? So, do I have to choose Tair instead?”

Shekai-san glanced at Alt-nii who was grinning—he looked like a mischievous child this way!

“…Do you really have to limit your options between the two siblings?”

“Yes, isn’t that obvious?!”

…No, it’s not obvious.

Shekai-san turned to examine my face for a while, as if confirming something… Is she reading my personality?

“…Actually, if you have to choose only between Lyra-chan or Altaire-kun, then… I guess it’s better for you to go with Lyra, as fellow girls!”

“Then, I will learn together with Lyr!! We can help each other!”

Carbuncle said with her shining eyes, looking expectantly at me.

“Uhm…”

“…Then, Lyra-chan, I hope you can get along well with Carbuncle-chan! She seems to have taken a liking on you, isn’t that great?!”

Shekai-san happily clapped her hands and smiled.

Somehow, I feel like her reason to recommend me in comparison to my big brother… isn’t only because I am a girl… Plus, Alt-nii’s mischievous look from earlier—

But wait a second!! Can I have a say on this?

Okay, setting that aside, I understand… having a dragon liking you is something awesome!

But…

But… I aimed for an ordinary and peaceful life…

“I will definitely come and play with Tair as well, but I think it’s easier for fellow girls to get along!”

“Lyra, that’s great! You’ve got another female friend!!”

“…”

Uhm, yes, it’s great to have another female friend on my first day of school…

But… can my friend be more ordinary than this… pretty… please?

“Hey, Lyr, I will tell you something nice as a token of our friendship!”

Carbuncle swiftly moved to my side, put her hand close to my ears and whispered.

“…Eh?!”

Though I yelled in my surprise, Carbuncle continued to approach the door while humming happily.

She ignored Shekai-san who said that she was making some necessary arrangements for Carbuncle’s stay in the school…

As for me…

“Wait, what do you mean by it, Carbuncle?!”

I followed her in a hurry. I really, really want a confirmation of her statement just now!!

“Psst, I hope we will get along well, mixed dragon-descent!”